The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
February 28, 2013

Senate Judiciary Committee Weights Assault Weapons Ban 
-------------------------------------------------------


 
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Wednesday on the proposal
for reinstating the military assault weapons ban. In the hearing's most
testy exchange, Wisconsin Police Chief Ed Flynn sparred with Republican
Sen. Lindsey Graham on whether the ban would reduce killings.

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "In 2011 it was 2.5 percent of U.S. homicides were
committed by a rifle of any type. Twice as many people were killed with
bare hands."

Ed Flynn: "From my point of view, Senator, the purpose of the background
check."

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "How many cases have you made?"

Ed Flynn: "You know it doesn't matter. It's a paper thing. I want to
stop 76,000, can finish the answer?

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "No but I want to..."

Ed Flynn: "I want to stop 76,000 people from buying guns illegally.
That's what a background check does. If you think we're going to do
paperwork prosecution you're wrong."

 

.